Peterson: Welcome to a new and improved era of ISU football

Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell looks on as the Cyclones scored a touchdown against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.(Photo: Bryon Houlgrave/The Register)Buy Photo

Until West Virginia reeled off all those points in a row during a game-changing final 20 minutes, the Red Raiders were playing pretty good defense.

Whether the relapse festers Saturday depends on the Cyclones rushing the ball well for a change and Iowa State continuing to get good results from its concise-yet-productive passing plan.

“Let’s not pretend — there’s a lot of work for this football team to do,” ISU coach Matt Campbell said Saturday afternoon. “There’s a lot of challenges, and that starts next week.”

Campbell won’t be fully satisfied until his program not only reaches a bowl game for the first time since 2012 but wins a postseason game for the first time since the 2009 Insight Bowl against Minnesota.

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Sophomore running back David Montgomery (32) is tackled during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Ames.
(Photo: Brian Powers/The Register)

The first part of that can happen this season. The Cyclones are 4-2, including 2-1 in the Big 12. Recent history points toward post-season play.

The last four times Iowa State had at least four wins after six games resulted in bowls: the 2012 Liberty, the 2002 Humanitarian, the 2001 Independence, and the 2000 Insight.

There’s also what happened in 1999: a 4-2 start, then consecutive losses to Colorado, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Kansas.

To even mention all of this shows how far this team has come in Campbell’s 18 games in Ames.

“Going downhill from here,” the coach said. “It’ll be challenging to win games.”

His "downhill" there is a reference to the second half of the 12-game regular season, which starts Saturday.

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Iowa State senior quarterback Joel Lanning runs the ball in the first quarter against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.(Photo: Bryon Houlgrave/The Register)

“We have good players,” tailback David Montgomery said. “We’ve got dogs on this team that have the type of mentality that 'it’s never gonna be enough.'”

Someone asked about this team becoming overconfident.

(Insert chuckle here.)

Someone emailed about Saturday at Texas Tech being a “trap game,” considering unbeaten TCU comes to The Jack on Oct. 28.

Iowa State sophomore running back Sheldon Croney, Jr., runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa State sophomore running back Sheldon Croney, Jr., runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Redshirt senior wide receiver Trever Ryen (19) tosses the ball back to an official during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Ames.
Brian Powers/The Register

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jalen Martin (83) catches a pass over Kansas's Shakial Taylor (8) during the second half of their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Ames.
Brian Powers/The Register

Iowa State running back David Montgomery leaps into the end zone to give the Cyclones a 24-0 lead at halftime over Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Kempt (17) hands off to sophmore running back David Montgomery (32) during their football game against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Ames.
Brian Powers/The Register

Sophmore running back David Montgomery (32) runs into the end zone to put the Cyclones on the board first during their football game against Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Ames.
Brian Powers/The Register

Sophmore running back David Montgomery (32) is tackled by Kansas's Tyrone Miller Jr. (22) during their football game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Ames.
Brian Powers/The Register

Kansas punter Cole Moss loses the snap late in the first half against Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. The error cost the Jayhawks, as Iowa State scored a touchdown to take a 24-0 lead at half.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

Iowa State running back David Montgomery leaps into the end zone to give the Cyclones a 24-0 lead at halftime over Kansas at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

I get it. Iowa State’s last four opponents have combined for just 10 second-half points. The passing game is wonderful. Special teams are special. Kamari Cotton-Moya is special, too.

But overconfident and trap games?

My, has this program come a long way.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.